From Tyeb Mehta to Syed Haider Raza, unique artwork by 54 Indian artists up for Christie’s auction

Given the high price tags, most discerning collectors would hope to pick up works by one or may be a couple of top contemporary artists at an auction. But how about a purchase that lets you claim ownership of artworks by not one, but 54 modern and contemporary artists? A unique piece of work is about to go up for sale at the Christie’s South Asian Modern and Contemporary sale to be hosted in London later this week. And it’s a full deck. Titled, Taash Ke Patte, the piece brings together 54 artists to reimagine a deck of playing cards, each bringing his or her own interpretation. Artists such as Syed Haider Raza, Krishen Khanna and Anjolie Ela Menon have contributed.


Bhuri Bai’s ‘5 of Spades’. (Image: Agencies)

The 54 framed works are estimated to fetch $1-1.5 lakh (Rs 70 lakh-Rs 1 crore). In addition to creating the artworks, the artists have signed an agreement granting copyright of their images to the buyer. This will allow him to reproduce the works as a physical deck. The centrepiece of the auction will be Tyeb Mehta’s Untitled ( Woman on Rickshaw), a painting from 1994, which is hitting the auction block for the first time. Till date, it has been a part of a private collection, according to Christie’s. The work is estimated to fetch $19-25 lakh (approx. Rs 13-17.5 crore).


Tyeb Mehta’s Untitled (Woman on Rickshaw), a painting from 1994. (Image: Agencies)


Gulam Mohammed Sheikh’s ‘Jack of Clubs. (Image: Agencies)